TALLINN, Nov 13, BNS - Estonian Member of the European Parliament Urmas Paet said that the launch of the European Union's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is the kind of initiative with which Estonia will be recorded in the history of the EU.

"This concrete step in EU defense cooperation today is also a significant step of the time of the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union, with which the Estonian presidency will also be remembered in the future," Paet said in a press release.Twenty-three European Union member states on Monday in Brussels signed a declaration of intent for increasing defense cooperation in the framework of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). According to Estonian Minister of Defense Juri Luik, PESCO initiated by the member states symbolizes a new era in the defense policy of the European Union and increases Europe's security.Paet, who is the author of the European Parliament's report on EU defense cooperation, said that he is glad that more than 20 countries joined the initiative on Monday."The aim of EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation is to deepen defense cooperation between member states and improve coordination in developing new military technology. It was announced in June that 5.5 billion euros annually will be contributed to the European Defense Fund," Paet said.The signing of the declaration of intent will be followed by an official vote for the launch of PESCO. This may take place already in December during the Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union.The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said on Monday that by signing the PESCO declaration of intent on Monday, the member states are turning a new page in the union's defense cooperation.Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8852, sise@bns.eeBaltic News Service